Shehu Bamidele has emerged the Winner of the Snooker and Pool Players Alliance of Nigeria organised 2023 Joy Heyball Masters Division One Tour #2 Nigeria Qualifier by beating Adebayo Adekunle 10 – 6 in a very final match played on a Joy Billiards Bing Table at the Nicon Town Recreation Center Lekki, Sportivationng.com reports.
This victory confers on Bamidele the sole representative of Nigeria at the Joy Heyball Masters Division One Tour #2 which holds in Lanzhou City of China from June 23 – July 3, 2023.
The Final which was streamed live via SPPA partner, Asentv.tv YouTube Channel was a Race to 10 Racks as Shehu Bamidele who was unbeaten enroute final displayed a no smiling no nonsense combat mode to take a 4 – 1 lead in the first session but Adebayo closed the gap with a 2 -3 score in the another 5 racks causing the match to be 6 – 4 at the end of the second session.
In the final session, it was now a game of survival as Shehu successfully defended the intensified tactically challenge deplored by his opponent by winning 4 of the last 6 racks of the event, thereby causing the match to end 10-6.
Adebayo Adekunle who confronted Shehu Bamidele fire power in the Finals had earlier in the day beat Sunday Ekundayo and Christopher Abiodun a.k.a “Emiratae” to break the tie by a Race to 3 Racks playoff in a round robin contest.
Veteran Snooker and Pool player Wale Osomo who is a leading member of the SPPA and a participant in the tournament gave a remark at the end of the event. He said
“I believe that this is the first of many to happen. This is the first step. What do the Chinese say? A journey of a thousand miles starts with a step and this is the first step. The whole idea and vision is to actually raise a new generation of Snooker and Pool Players.”
The former Snooker Champion in Nigeria further said
“Now we know that we have Pool on the street and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way; that is out in town people are playing in so many different corners of Lagos and Nigeria but there is no structure”
“We owe ourselves that duty to create a new structure for Snooker and Pool in Nigeria and thst is what we are trying to do to get all of you to come into this fold”
“We face a challenge in Nigeria where people say that in Pool we are always betting. The truth of the matter is what is wrong with betting? After all we have betting companies everywhere now ,so, what we are doing is nothing different but with the intention that we are going to structure it so well that it comes into the main stream in Nigeria”
In encouraging Shehu Bamidele, the winner of the Nigeria Qualifiers. He said
“ If you believe that you will win that Tournament, you will win it. You need to understand that. We are all routing for you. You have all our support. We wish all the best and God’s speed”
One of the participants in the tournament Charles Chijide the CEO of Zubich Textiles , a reputed retailer of top quality textile material was very impressed by the quality of play and skills exhibited by all the contestants and he made a presentation of some textiles to Bamidele imploring him to dress in the proper Nigeria style when travelling to China.
Joachim Idada the President Snooker and Pool Players Alliance of Nigeria (SPPA) also in his remark noted.
“ In our days we never had the right structure that offered us this opportunity.First, this Nigeria Qualifier has offered us a rare opportunity for our great “prof”, Mr Wale Osomo to officially transfer the mantle of leadership to the next generation of great Snooker and Pool Players in line with international best practice. So, Shehu and the other players in the Nigeria Qualifier are the next and future generation of the sports”
“We will be doing everything possible to get your visa to enable you travel as you are expected to arrive china by the 20th June to participate in the main event”
In encouraging Shehu Bamidele and attesting to the reputationof SPPA, he said
“Through the Alliance, Abiodun Christopher had the opportunity to travel to Dubai to play in Dubai Open Chinese 8 Ball Open Tournament and also traveled to Singapore to participate in there Open Billiards Championship. Now you are to go to China to participate in the 2023 Joy Heyball Maters Division One Tour #2. You are not only representing yourself but many other players whose future you are carrying on your shoulders.
Please go there and play, go with the Nigerian spirit. Fight and fight till you win.”
The SPPA helmsman also used the opportunity to announce that some of the tournaments of the alliance like the monthly Heyball Top 4 series and the challenge series will be returning soon.
